Extreme Collaboration: Freudenberg-NOK Helps Polaris Snowmobiles Navigate Severe Winter Conditions

PLYMOUTH, Mich., Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the mid 1950's, Polaris customers have put their confidence and trust in the reliability of their snowmo­biles, even when they're thousands of miles away from civilization. And, for almost two decades, Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies (Freudenberg-NOK) engineers have continuously contributed their expertise and resources to create diaphragms for extended maintenance cycles.

Polaris is a leading manufacturer of snowmobiles and off-road vehicles, including ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), side-by-side vehicles and motorcycles. Polaris snowmobiles must with­stand some of the harshest environments and most adverse weather conditions on Earth. Whether used as primary transportation in isolated, snowy climes, as a recreational vehicle by urban families or as an impressive race machine on the professional snowmobile circuit, Polaris sets the customer standard for reliability, quality and performance in the industry.

"Freudenberg-NOK is proud to collaborate with a leader like Polaris," said Vinay Nilkanth, vice president, Mobility Sector, Freudenberg-NOK. "We work hard to build successful relationships with companies that are setting technology benchmarks. We want to support their growing success with the best sealing systems available."

Freudenberg-NOK has worked in close partnership with Polaris to engineer reliable diaphragms and introduce materials and design improvements to extend the life of these important components.

The snowmobile runs on a two-stroke engine, where the diaphragms (there are two per engine, one per cylinder) use cylinder pressure to actuate the variable exhaust valve mech­anisms. If the diaphragm fails, the variable exhaust valve will not actuate at the designated engine revolutions per minute (RPM). The result is that the engine will not reach its peak power and peak power RPM, which reduces the machine's performance.

Polaris and Freudenberg-NOK have identified a further concern: Inferior diaphragms might fail completely, causing the variable exhaust mechanism to malfunction. When this occurs, the engine runs at a significantly reduced power level. If both diaphragms fail in rapid succession, the machine experiences further performance losses. Polaris and Freudenberg-NOK have collaborated on diaphragm designs that insure this will not happen.

Collaboration between Polaris and Freudenberg-NOK has resulted in design and production of a virtually maintenance-free diaphragm that lasts as long as the sled itself. Freudenberg-NOK optimized the design for Polaris in a number of important ways, including:

• Incorporated fabric reinforced high temperature meta-aramid fabric (Nomex®) to withstand extended high temperature in the exhaust system where the diaphragm is used and temperatures can often exceed 300°F even on very cold days;
• Added a RFN™ coating to reduce friction by up to 70 percent, allowing the diaphragm to move effortlessly along the surfaces of the mating hardware;
• Changed the design from a dome shape to a convoluted shape to decrease potential assembly issues, as well as allow for proper movement of the diaphragm and
• Incorporated small rubber ribs to the fabric side to protect it from abrasion.

"The durability improvements to the diaphragm have reduced the maintenance required by the custom­er," said Michael Frankel, Account Manager for Recreational Market Segment at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies.

Together with extended maintenance cycles and improved performance in adverse conditions, Freudenberg-NOK has helped Polaris offer a product to customers that they can put full confidence in, no matter if the competition comes from another sled or tough terrain.

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies
Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Co. in Germany and NOK Corp. in Japan. Freudenberg-NOK is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture; appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. and operates more than 20 facilities across the Americas. For additional information, please visit www.fnst.com.

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SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

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